Five workers were killed and five others injured after an explosion at a chemical manufacturing unit in Gujarat’s Bharuch district late Friday.
The blast occurred around 10 pm during a hydrogenation process at a factory in the Saykha industrial area of Vagra taluka. The explosion triggered a leak of toxic methylene dichloride gas.
The force of the blast ruptured a reactor tank and scattered machinery parts across the factory premises, Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said. The unit manufactures pharmaceutical intermediates and began operations in the area about a year ago.
The five deceased workers were identified as Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel and Bhavik Dilipkumar Vasava, both from Amod; Vrund Talaviya from Talala in Gir Somnath district; and Aniket Harilal Gautam and Arjunkumar Ramsingh Gautam, both from Uttar Pradesh.
The five injured workers were identified as Pavankumar Ramsingh Gautam, Mausamkumar Ramsevak Yadav, Shivdayal Ramavatar Yadav, Pratik Pravin Prajapati and Priyanshu Bahadurlal. They were undergoing treatment, officials said.
Police and teams responsible for pollution control and industrial safety reached the site following the incident. The exact cause of the explosion is under investigation.